Whether they’re a fresh-faced newcomer or established Hurricanes upperclassman, Jaquan Johnson has no problem sticking his nose in their business. Just ask Shaq Quarterman, by now a well-known name.

“I tell him, ‘You were a freshman All-American. That’s enough for you, huh. That’s all you want,’” Johnson said in a mocking tone, referring to the linebacker’s breakout 2016 season.

Johnson, a safety, has been eagerly awaiting this spring. He has been a contributor since the day he stepped on campus from Miami-Killian High in January 2015. He played on special teams early, earned a starting spot as a junior, and now, as a senior, he is ready to be the tone-setter for UM’s defense.

His play backs up his aspirations. Johnson (four interceptions, team-high 96 tackles) earned national recognition last year as one of 15 semifinalists for the Walter Camp Player of the Year, and was a major reason UM led the nation in takeaways (30).

“I want them to challenge me as well,” Johnson said. “Those guys respond like, ‘You don’t even understand.’ They’re trying to reestablish themselves. They tell me, ‘I don’t have a name.’ I’ll just be like, ‘Oh, you big time. You big time, huh?’ They like to bark back at me. They’re responding.”

New players on campus, familiar faces in new roles — here are 10 storylines to watch beginning Tuesday, when the Hurricanes open spring drills in Coral Gables:

1. Will Malik Rosier keep his spot?

What do football teams value most? Stability at quarterback. In most cases, redshirt senior who won 10 games and took his team to the Orange Bowl would be celebrated as a sure thing, one of the top players in his conference.

In his first year as a starter, Rosier set a program record for total touchdowns (32) but struggled with his accuracy. His 44.9 completion percentage in UM’s final three games, all losses, are why many are eager to see what Perry, a redshirt freshman with scrambling ability and a strong arm, can do. Same goes for fellow redshirt freshman Cade Weldon and early enrollee Jarren Williams.

Mark Richt has said the job is Rosier’s, but he’ll have to prove himself all over again. Will Perry (or someone else) make it clear they’re a better choice?

2. Is the defensive line still a strength?

It was some kind of offseason for what was, last year, Miami’s best position group.

The Hurricanes led the nation in sacks per game and were fourth in tackles for loss, but lost six scholarship defensive linemen. That includes three starters: End Chad Thomas, who graduated, and tackles Kendrick Norton and RJ McIntosh, who turned pro a year early. Additionally, freshman end DJ Johnson, a former four-star recruit, transferred to Oregon and two valuable reserves (tackle Anthony Moten and end Trent Harris) graduated. Oh, and Craig Kuligowski – widely considered the nation’s best D-line coach – bolted for Alabama.

That leaves a host of questions. Can Willis, who sat out 2017 for what UM called personal reasons, stay healthy and productive in his final season? How is redshirt senior end Demetrius Jackson coming along after November knee surgery? What about Scott Patchan, seemingly forever dogged by knee injuries?

How rapidly can promising sophomore end Jonathan Garvin – whom fellow end Joe Jackson calls “a freak of nature” – and 6-5, 300-pound tackle Jon Ford develop ? Can Joe Jackson, productive in his first two seasons with lots of talent around him, handle a heavier load? How capable is junior Pat Bethel? What about 6-6 early enrollee Greg Rousseau?

Will UM leave the spring waiting for summer additions (four-star recruit Nesta Silvera, three-star Jordan Miller and graduate transfer Tito Odenigbo, all tackles) or feel OK with the group it has? Is the end position deep enough? Spring will bring some of the answers.

3. What effect will Jess Simpson have?

Kuligowski’s replacement is a former Atlanta Falcons defensive assistant who spent more than two decades as a successful Georgia high school coach. He takes over a Joe Jackson, arguably his brightest talent, seems encouraged.

“It’s been good,” Jackson said. “He has a lot of good insight. He’s very talkative, but he knows his stuff, knows what he’s doing. We’re just keeping an open mind, trying to take in whatever he has to offer. … That’s how it is. A coach could be there one minute, gone the next. All I have to do is just adjust and take in whatever he has to offer. He’s going to make me better whether I like it or not.”

That has, so far, included “techniques about coming off the ball, having the right hand placement, and how efficient we have to be when you’re trying to get off the block and read the pass key or the run key,” Jackson said.

“What he emphasizes, we’re going to execute. The scheme is already set and we already know the plays.”

Miami ended last year with the NFL-bound Walton hurt, and Travis Homer (1,185 yards from scrimmage, nine touchdowns) and DeeJay Dallas as their 1 and 2. Lingard will wear No. 1, but can he fill that role as a true freshman, or will he come along more slowly? (We also want to know if he has a touchdown celebration as cool as Homer’s.) Redshirt freshman Robert Burns and redshirt senior Trayone Gray need to show they belong, especially with four-star Camron Davis (and fullback Realus George) arriving this summer.

5. What will the offensive line look like?

The Hurricanes return three starters: right tackle Tyree St. Louis and center Tyler Gauthier, both seniors-to-be, and right guard Navaughn Donaldson, last year an ESPN freshman All-American. It’s conceivable all three could be playing different positions in 2018.

Miami needs a left tackle and left guard after the graduation of Kc McDermott and Trevor Darling. St. Louis and redshirt freshman Kai-Leon Herbert could vie for the McDermott’s spot. Sophomore Corey Gaynor seems poised to play either center or left guard, with Gauthier taking the other place. If Donaldson doesn’t move to tackle, he could be an excellent right guard. The right tackle job, if St. Louis is moved, could be filled by a little-used veteran (redshirt junior George Brown Jr.) or a new face (perhaps early enrollee freshman Delone Scaife). Will these players leave room for graduate transfer Venzell Boulware (Tennessee) when he arrives post-spring?

Miami’s run game and pass protection has been inconsistent for several years. UM has recruited well in the last two seasons. Are those players ready to make an impact? Are UM’s upperclassmen more capable than they’ve previously shown?

6. Is either returning tight end starter-caliber?

Miami is excited about four-star signees Brevin Jordan and Will Mallory. Coaches see them as a Chris Herndon-David Njoku combo: Jordan as a fleet-footed H-back and Mallory busting the seam from the slot.

Reinforcements are coming. But not until the summer.

This spring, junior Michael Irvin II and sophomore Brian Polendey must prove they’re worthy of playing time before that high-profile pair arrives. Irvin, the son of the Hall of Fame wide receiver, has soft hands but has been suspended for off-the-field issues. Polendey, a sophomore who saw brief action last season, needed to gain strength before seeing more.

The Canes have big-bodied veterans in Dayall Harris, Lawrence Cager and Darrell Langham. They have smaller, speeder sophomore standouts Jeff Thomas and Mike Harley. They have early enrollee freshmen with length in Brian Hightower and Daquris Wiggins. Don’t forget about 6-foot-6 Evidence Njoku, who should be ready for the spotlight after last year’s redshirt season.

With Richards targeting a summer return from knee surgery and freshmen Mark Pope — an elite talent — and Marquez Ezzard joining the fray, those currently on campus will try to show they deserve front-line roles.

“Last year the coaches didn’t always know who to trust,” Rosier said. “The group as a whole, the experience level is going up. There are a lot of guys with 12, 13 games of experience.”

8. How good are the second-unit linebackers?

UM lost two depth pieces this offseason when would-be senior Darrion Owens transferred to Houston and promising, but oft-injured Jamie Gordnier stepped away from the game. That could mean more opportunity for sophomore De’Andre Wilder — a candidate to win the backup job behind McCloud at strong-side linebacker — and redshirt freshman Waynmon Steed (he has “opened eyes,” according to defensive coordinator Manny Diaz, in his year on the sidelines), as well as sophomore Bradley Jennings. Will they prove more capable than seniors Charles Perry and Mike Smith? Four-star Patrick Joyner will add depth when he enrolls this summer.

Another wrinkle: UM’s new 10th assistant, Jonathan Patke, assumes a greater on-field and recruiting role. He will coach outside linebackers.

9. How will the secondary battles shake out?

Johnson, the safety, is still smarting over the way last year ended.

“We came out booming and we let the last three go,” he said. “The entire defense has a chip on our shoulder. Those last three games we lost, that was our fault.”

He has the right attitude. He and Redwine, his longtime pal from Killian High and the Richmond Heights area of Miami, could be one of the ACC’s better safety duos. Jackson, after a breakout season, looks like one of the starting corners. Malek Young’s career-ending neck injury and Dee Delaney’s graduation could open the door for Jhavonte Dean, Trajan Bandy or a talented newcomer to put his stamp on a spot (Gilbert Frierson and DJ Ivey enrolled early; Al Blades Jr. arrives this summer). Safeties Amari Carter and Derrick Smith, both sophomores, saw playing time as last year rolled on. The competition for backup jobs should be heated between them, freshman Gurvan Hall, and juniors-to-be Robert Knowles and Romeo Finley.

10. What can we learn about Miami’s special teams?

All-ACC kicker Michael Badgley graduated, and UM won’t have one on scholarship until Texas three-star Bubba Baxa enrolls post-spring. Punter Zach Feagles, who struggled as a freshman, must improve. The Hurricanes are also looking for a punt returner after Braxton Berrios’ graduation.

DALLAS — Chris Lykes wanted a memento of his first NCAA Tournament experience. In a somber locker room after Miami fell to Loyola on a last-second shot, Lykes noticed a few teammates pulling “March Madness” placards off the walls. He snatched one, too.

He plans to display it where he can see it daily.

“I already know people are probably going to count us out starting now,” Lykes said, “but we’ve got a good group coming back. We’ve got some athleticism, I have a year under my belt so I’ll be more of a leader, so you can expect that from me. It starts now. I’m definitely going to be in the gym a lot. This really hurt me.”

Jim Larranaga can count on a motivated point guard entering his sophomore year.

Miami (22-10) graduates one senior, guard Ja’Quan Newton. It would be overjoyed if freshman guard Lonnie Walker and sophomore Bruce Brown return instead of enter the NBA Draft. They could combine with Lykes to create one of the ACC’s most exciting backcourts. The frontcourt, featuring junior Dewan Huell and seniors Anthony Lawrence Jr. and Ebuka Izundu, would be filled with upperclassmen who can score and defend.

“One of the things my staff and I have wanted to do and haven’t been able to do is stay older, have a more experienced team. I think that plays very well into postseason. I think the older guys who have been through it normally play well. I think younger guys have it a little more challenging,” Larranaga said.

“Right now, we only have one scholarship senior. We have two guys sitting out. So if everybody would return, that would be like 11 guys. We still have two scholarships to give. But in today’s game, I have no idea. I look around our league, and I can’t tell you what’s going to happen at those places, either.”

]]>http://caneswatch.blog.palmbeachpost.com/2018/03/16/hard-to-predict-what-2018-19-miami-hurricanes-will-look-like/feed/0mportsManny Diaz: Gerald Willis among ‘top performers’ in Miami Hurricanes’ offseason workouts; others to know, plus Jess Simpson thoughtshttp://caneswatch.blog.palmbeachpost.com/2018/03/16/manny-diaz-gerald-willis-among-top-performers-in-miami-hurricanes-offseason-workouts-others-to-know-plus-jess-simpson-thoughts/
http://caneswatch.blog.palmbeachpost.com/2018/03/16/manny-diaz-gerald-willis-among-top-performers-in-miami-hurricanes-offseason-workouts-others-to-know-plus-jess-simpson-thoughts/#commentsFri, 16 Mar 2018 16:19:00 +0000Fri, 16 Mar 2018 15:38:41 +0000http://caneswatch.blog.palmbeachpost.com/?p=27102DALLAS — Long before Manny Diaz was Miami’s defensive coordinator, he was a Miami fan. So he was plenty pleased with the hand life dealt him last week: with his football players on spring break, ...]]>

DALLAS — Long before Manny Diaz was Miami’s defensive coordinator, he was a Miami fan. So he was plenty pleased with the hand life dealt him last week: with his football players on spring break, he was heading to Dallas. As luck would have it, the NCAA selection committee sent the basketball team there.

It also brings fresh opportunities for players like redshirt senior defensive tackle Gerald Willis, the troubled former blue-chip recruit who sat out last year. He could be a critical piece for UM’s reloading defensive front — if he can stay on the field. Diaz is encouraged.

“What I see is a guy who is putting great value on every day,” he said. “When you’re away from something, you really realize how special it is and how much you miss it. You see that with Gerald. The way he is, leading our guys, the way he works, one of our top performers in our mat drill (conditioning) program. He gets it, man. His attitude’s been phenomenal. I expect him to be a big leader for us.”

Asked for standouts from offseason workouts, Diaz named a mix of veterans and newcomers:

* Junior linebackers Mike Pinckney — “This was definitely his best mat drill program since he’s been here,” Diaz said — and Shaq Quarterman.

* Senior safety Jaquan Johnson and cornerback Michael Jackson, he said, “are just blowing it out, as good as there is.”

* “I think it’s encouraging thing is the way the young guys have come in and worked,” Diaz said. “That’s (defensive end) Greg Rousseau, what (cornerback) DJ Ivey‘s done since he’s been on our campus has been unbelievable. (Cornerback) Gilbert Frierson‘s right there with him, and (safety) Gurvan Hall. Guys that will be playing for us in our secondary a year from now.”

“What you see now in year three is the older guys set the tone and the young guys learn. How great is it to have a guy like Jaquan Johnson to teach them the ropes, and the younger guys are soaking it in and are right there with the older guys.”

Two more players Diaz spotlighted: sophomore linebacker BJ Jennings and redshirt freshman Waynmon Steed, who missed last season because of a knee injury dating to high school. “Steed has really opened some eyes around here,” Diaz said.

Diaz called the team “very businesslike” after last year’s 0-3 finish, with losses at Pittsburgh, to Clemson in the ACC championship and to Wisconsin in the Orange Bowl.

“Good motivation for the future,” Diaz called it. “I think getting to the championship game, getting to a New Year’s Six bowl, they know they can be on that level, they can compete on that level, but they understand the fine details it takes to succeed on that level. It’s a different perspective in this offseason than in years past, when we were still getting over that hurdle.”

He also said new defensive line coach Jess Simpson, who replaces Alabama-bound Craig Kuligowski, is “already doing a great job.” Diaz didn’t know him, but “knew of him” for his success at Buford (Ga.) High.

“The thing that stands out about Jess is he’s an amazing teacher,” Diaz said. “He can take something that is very detailed and complex and make it simple to learn. The guys on our campus are very eager and excited to soak up the knowledge that he’s bringing.”

The Hurricanes didn’t want to lose Kuligowski, widely considered the best defensive line coach in the country. Diaz believes Mark Richt made a quality hire in Simpson, whose resume includes 23 years as a highly successful high school coach, two months at Georgia State and one year as a defensive assistant with the Atlanta Falcons.

“He’s a coach,” Diaz said. “There’s great coaches at all levels of coaching. There’s not-good coaches at all levels of coaching as well. The success he had at (Buford) speaks for itself. This is a hard profession, man. It takes a break, and he got a break a year ago to go to the Falcons. We’re super happy to add him to our staff.”

On Tuesday, 10 true freshmen will hit Miami’s practice field for the first time. Before we see them live during spring drills, Post contributor Daniel Gould offers a scouting report for each player, plus a grade, a projection and other interesting tidbits.

Gould is a Dallas-based data analyst who has been charting UM games for four years and reviewing signing classes for the last six. His evaluations are mostly based on reviews of high school highlight films, which are readily available on sites like Hudl and YouTube. He grades players on a 10-to-5 scale, rating their current skills and projecting their potential:

10: five-star caliber now, eventual All-American and immediate impact player.
9: upper-tier four-star, All-ACC caliber.
8: mid-tier four-star, impactful multi-year starter without as high a ceiling.
7: lower four-star, solid starter but not someone to build around.
6: high three-star, a role player with physical limitations that prevent a full-time starting job.
5: mid-tier three-star, likely a project or a special-teamer.
Below 5: Not a scholarship-level player at Miami.

Leading up to March 20, we’ll post Gould’s takes on UM’s early enrollees — the players who will participate in spring ball — and then move onto those arriving in the summer. (See previous posts below.)

Scouting report: “Undersized safety at 5-11 with a good build. Good athlete who excels in small areas and when coming downhill. Solid speed and rangy as a deep safety. Can do some damage with the ball in his hands. Hits offensive players with a purpose. Even with the hurt he puts on ballcarriers still wraps up consistently. Has an issue leaving his feet early and whiffing on runners. Is either making the tackle or is in close proximity chasing down the play from across the field. Hustle is on another level. Change-of-direction is an issue in man coverage. Angles coming downhill are hit or miss and he needs to improve ability to navigate traffic. Played mostly as a middle-of-field safety and some wide reciever in high school. Under Armour All-American. Early enrollee. Boundary safety who should produce highlight after highlight in single high coverage and coming downhill on running backs.”

On Tuesday, 10 true freshmen will hit Miami’s practice field for the first time. Before we see them live during spring drills, Post contributor Daniel Gould offers a scouting report for each player, plus a grade, a projection and other interesting tidbits.

Gould is a Dallas-based data analyst who has been charting UM games for four years and reviewing signing classes for the last six. His evaluations are mostly based on reviews of high school highlight films, which are readily available on sites like Hudl and YouTube. He grades players on a 10-to-5 scale, rating their current skills and projecting their potential:

10: five-star caliber now, eventual All-American and immediate impact player.
9: upper-tier four-star, All-ACC caliber.
8: mid-tier four-star, impactful multi-year starter without as high a ceiling.
7: lower four-star, solid starter but not someone to build around.
6: high three-star, a role player with physical limitations that prevent a full-time starting job.
5: mid-tier three-star, likely a project or a special-teamer.
Below 5: Not a scholarship-level player at Miami.

Leading up to March 20, we’ll post Gould’s takes on UM’s early enrollees — the players who will participate in spring ball — and then move onto those arriving in the summer. (See previous posts below.)

Next up: D.J. Ivey, part of Miami’s reloading efforts at cornerback:

DJ IVEY

Ivey

Gould’s grade: 7

Scouting report: “Ideal length and a lean 6-1. Good athlete and can run downfield with most players. Quick with light feet. Makes man coverage on vertical routes look easy. Uses the sideline to his advantage to choke off receivers. Disruptive at the catch point. Locates the ball well in off coverage. Puts in the work as a tackler. Smooth transitions when he’s under control but can get sloppy when trying to recover. Needs to make more contact at the line and not let receivers get inside him. Obviously has the aptitude for coverage but technique is fairly raw. Longtime commit. Teammate of Patrick Joyner (at Homestead-South Dade High). Natural cover corner who has the length to frustrate any receiver. Best football is ahead of him.”

On Tuesday, 10 true freshmen will hit Miami’s practice field for the first time. Before we see them live during spring drills, Post contributor Daniel Gould offers a scouting report for each player, plus a grade, a projection and other interesting tidbits.

Gould is a Dallas-based data analyst who has been charting UM games for four years and reviewing signing classes for the last six. His evaluations are mostly based on reviews of high school highlight films, which are readily available on sites like Hudl and YouTube. He grades players on a 10-to-5 scale, rating their current skills and projecting their potential:

10: five-star caliber now, eventual All-American and immediate impact player.
9: upper-tier four-star, All-ACC caliber.
8: mid-tier four-star, impactful multi-year starter without as high a ceiling.
7: lower four-star, solid starter but not someone to build around.
6: high three-star, a role player with physical limitations that prevent a full-time starting job.
5: mid-tier three-star, likely a project or a special-teamer.
Below 5: Not a scholarship-level player at Miami.

Leading up to March 20, we’ll post Gould’s takes on UM’s early enrollees — the players who will participate in spring ball — and then move onto those arriving in the summer. (See previous posts below.)

Next up: Gilbert Frierson, an impressive athlete who will start off at cornerback:

GILBERT FRIERSON

Frierson

Gould’s grade: 9

Scouting report: “Prototype size for a defensive back at 6-1 with long arms. Great athlete with an elite burst. Anticipates routes well and closes with disturbing quickness. Wide receiver hands. Dynamic return man. Threat to score after interceptions. Can jam smaller receivers into oblivion. Good effort as a tackler but needs to play behind his pads to be more effective. Back pedal can get a bit high and looks smoother using a shuffle technique. Urgency isn’t always there chasing the ball. Being in for spring will help him compete for a spot in the two deep that is badly in need of fresh talent. Played mostly safety in high school but has experience at corner and receiver. Stuck with Miami over Georgia. Perfect combination of range and man coverage ability to excel as field safety covering deep and inside receivers. Has upside as an outside corner as well.”

DALLAS — In this season under the microscope, Lonnie Walker made clutch plays. He sank Boston College with 2.3 seconds left. He hit an acrobatic layup to force overtime against Louisville.

The heralded freshman from Reading, Pa., one of the highest-profile recruits Miami has ever landed, had a good year. At times, he showed flashes of potential greatness. In certain moments, he looked like a future pro.

Not so in the final minute of sixth-seeded UM’s first-round 64-62 loss to 11th-seeded Loyola-Chicago. His untimely turnover, his foul while defending and his missed free throw that bounced and rolled around the rim for what seemed like an eternity — Walker had the ball in his hands, and the Hurricanes couldn’t hang on.

“It definitely hurts,” he said. “Definitely hurts. The ball went their way. There’s no true excuse or explanation or anything to say. I didn’t knock down the final shot. Game over,

“I definitely take responsibility. That’s what comes with being a good player. I had a turnover and a foul, and I missed the free throw. Definitely a learning experience.”

Fellow freshman Chris Lykes, the Hurricanes’ point guard of the future with Ja’Quan Newton graduating, wouldn’t let Walker’s head drop.

“The kid hit a big shot,” he said of Donte Ingram’s winner. “We didn’t play that well, but down the stretch we got some stops. We can’t blame it on Lonnie’s free throw. There were so many things throughout the game we could have done better. To blame it on Lonnie’s free throw is stupid.”

Had Walker made it, however, Miami would have had more options. It would have given him another. Had he made that, the score would have been 64-61. Jim Larranaga could have called timeout, made any necessary substitutions and set up his defense to foul, putting Loyola at the free-throw line rather than giving the Ramblers a chance to hit a tying 3.

Walker’s teammates weren’t thinking that way. They were sore over the plays they made, or didn’t make. Sophomore forward Dewan Huell, who had two costly turnovers in the final 2:10, also blamed himself for allowing 6-foot-9, 260-pound center Cameron Krutwig to back him down and score on his first two touches.

“I thought the biggest statistic that separated us is they had 19 assists,” he said. “We only had 11. They found the open man a little bit more than we did, despite the fact that we shot 51 percent from the field, better than their 47, and 44 percent from three better than their 38. And neither one of us shot well from the foul line. We shot 61 percent. They shot 44 percent.

“When I look at those numbers, I think to myself, we probably would have won the game, but we didn’t. They made the last big play.”

After the loss, Walker, a 6-foot-5, 200-pound NBA draft prospect projected by some websites as a lottery pick, wanted to escape for a few days. “I have to relax and gather myself,” he said. “I’ll just get away from the game, focus on me and my friends, get back to myself.”

He wasn’t sure when he would decide his future. “I need to speak to God, speak to my family and friends and my coaches,” he said. “We’ll make the ultimate decision after that.”

His review of the season?

“It was extraordinary,” he said. “I’m proud of myself. I’m more proud of my teammates for fighting through adversity.

“It definitely hurts seeing a shot like that go in, but I’m proud of my team and how we fought and how we played. Hats off to them, and hope they do well in the tournament.”

]]>http://caneswatch.blog.palmbeachpost.com/2018/03/15/2018-ncaa-tournament-teammates-not-blaming-lonnie-walker-for-miami-hurricanes-loss/feed/2mports2018 NCAA Tournament: Heartbreak for Hurricanes on Loyola-Chicago’s first-round buzzer-beaterhttp://caneswatch.blog.palmbeachpost.com/2018/03/15/2018-ncaa-tournament-buzzer-beater-by-loyola-chicago-bounces-miami-out-in-first-round/
http://caneswatch.blog.palmbeachpost.com/2018/03/15/2018-ncaa-tournament-buzzer-beater-by-loyola-chicago-bounces-miami-out-in-first-round/#commentsFri, 16 Mar 2018 02:38:35 +0000Thu, 15 Mar 2018 21:35:47 +0000http://caneswatch.blog.palmbeachpost.com/?p=27060DALLAS — Tear off the final page of the script, and what remained would have told a wonderful tale for Miami.

The closing scene would have been dramatic: guard Ja’Quan Newton, the lone senior on a ...]]>

Loyola’s Donte Ingram celebrates after his winning 3-pointer sinks Miami in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Tournament at American Airlines Center on March 15, 2018 in Dallas. (Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

DALLAS — Tear off the final page of the script, and what remained would have told a wonderful tale for Miami.

The closing scene would have been dramatic: guard Ja’Quan Newton, the lone senior on a talented but youthful squad, overcame his troubles to hit the biggest shot of his college career: a 16-foot fallaway jumper with 39 seconds left, which broke a 60-all tie and sent Miami to the second round.

After that, however, there was much to be written.

And the central theme was Hurricane heartbreak.

After Newton’s shot came a turnover and a missed free throw by Lonnie Walker, a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by Donte Ingram and Miami (22-10) was done, knocked out of the South regional of the NCAA Tournament. The final score: 64-62.

Loyola (29-5), the 11th seed and champion of the Missouri Valley Conference, handed the sixth-seeded Hurricanes their second first-round loss in as many seasons. Last year, Michigan State trounced Miami in Tulsa. That game was over early. This one had punches and counterpunches, ebbs and flows, and plenty of mistakes on either side.

Walker, a freshman guard, NBA draft prospect and most heralded recruit to sign with UM in recent memory, fouled Loyola’s Marques Townes with 26 seconds left. Townes made 1-of-2, but with the Ramblers pressing and Walker dribbling the ball up the left side, guard Lucas Williamson slapped the ball off Walker’s leg and out of bounds, giving possession to Loyola with 23.5 on the clock.

With 9.3 left, Walker’s foul shot hit the front of the rim, the back, then bounced on the edge four times before falling off.

“There’s no true excuse or explanation or anything to say,” he said. “I didn’t knock down the final shot. Game over.”

Freshman Sam Waardenburg, whose critical offensive rebound helped put Walker at the line, couldn’t get this one. Loyola’s Ben Richardson hauled it in and hit Townes, who raced up the court. He saw Ingram trailing the play, spotting up from 28 feet.

Splash. Celebration. The Ramblers, playing their first tournament game since 1985, piled on Ingram. They hugged Sister Jean Schmidt, their lovable 98-year-old team chaplain. Miami players stood in stunned silence. Ten minutes later, as a crowd of 15,802 had mostly cleared, one mid-20s fan in maroon-and-gold screamed in raspy joy, “Can you believe this?” His call echoed around the building.

College basketball fans around the country responded in the affirmative. Loyola was a trendy pick to pull an upset: a Cinderella candidate that played stifling defense, shot a high percentage and won games of significance (beating Florida on the road) and in volume (17 of 18 coming in, 10 in a row). For Miami, the answer to that fan was a quiet, painful, “No.”

“I think this is the most hurt I’ve ever been,” said freshman guard Chris Lykes, who had 10 points and six rebounds and sparked an 11-4 run early in the second half. Miami went up seven points with 15:49 left, in control after a sloppy start. Loyola led by seven six minutes in, but by halftime UM tied the game at 32 on another buzzer-beater: DJ Vasiljevic’s offensive rebound and floater.

Miami had a five-point lead with 2:46 to go, but a pair of turnovers by Dewan Huell (11 points, seven rebounds, three blocks) and a 3-pointer by MVC player of the year Clayton Custer helped tie it at 60. The Hurricanes, who average 11 turnovers, had 16.

Newton’s shot would have erased those mistakes. But there was more to be written.

The Hurricanes shot 51 percent and made 4-of-9 from distance. They outrebounded Loyola and held a 13-3 edge in second-chance points. They helped hold the Ramblers to 8-of-21 from the perimeter. Ingram hit one that will last forever.

Waardenburg wasn’t close enough to block it. Lykes thought he would get a steal before the assist was made. Newton was looking for his man, hoping to get a stop and make free throws to seal a second-round spot.

Huell, waiting for a rebound that never came, saw “the ball going through the net and the buzzer going off.”

On Tuesday, 10 true freshmen will hit Miami’s practice field for the first time. Before we see them live during spring drills, Post contributor Daniel Gould offers a scouting report for each player, plus a grade, a projection and other interesting tidbits.

Gould is a Dallas-based data analyst who has been charting UM games for four years and reviewing signing classes for the last six. His evaluations are mostly based on reviews of high school highlight films, which are readily available on sites like Hudl and YouTube. He grades players on a 10-to-5 scale, rating their current skills and projecting their potential:

10: five-star caliber now, eventual All-American and immediate impact player.
9: upper-tier four-star, All-ACC caliber.
8: mid-tier four-star, impactful multi-year starter without as high a ceiling.
7: lower four-star, solid starter but not someone to build around.
6: high three-star, a role player with physical limitations that prevent a full-time starting job.
5: mid-tier three-star, likely a project or a special-teamer.
Below 5: Not a scholarship-level player at Miami.

Leading up to March 20, we’ll post Gould’s takes on UM’s early enrollees — the players who will participate in spring ball — and then move onto those arriving in the summer. (See previous posts below.)

Next up: Gregory Rousseau, a 6-foot-6 defensive end who played everywhere — safety, linebacker, defensive end and receiver — in high school:

GREGORY ROUSSEAU

Rousseau

Gould’s grade: 6

Scouting report: “Extraordinary length on a thin 6-6 frame. Very smooth athlete and moves well for a player of his height. Covers a lot of ground as an underneath zone defender. Shows good instincts with hand placement but doesn’t have much in terms of pass rush moves. Leverage can be an issue and often looks to run around blockers rather than engaging. Subpar tackler and doesn’t strike ball carriers. Played all over the field in high school, ranging from end to safety on defense, as well as wide receiver on offense. Totaled eight sacks as a senior on a state championship team (at Hialeah-Champagnat). Early enrollee who will greatly benefit from the extra time in the weight room. Athletic edge project with the ability to play in space and drop into coverage. Will need to get significantly stronger before he will be able to contribute on a
down to down basis and his ceiling will be dependent on if he can combine that strength with technique to grow as a pass rusher.”

On Tuesday, 10 true freshmen will hit Miami’s practice field for the first time. Before we see them live during spring drills, Post contributor Daniel Gould offers a scouting report for each player, plus a grade, a projection and other interesting tidbits.

Gould is a Dallas-based data analyst who has been charting UM games for four years and reviewing signing classes for the last six. His evaluations are mostly based on reviews of high school highlight films, which are readily available on sites like Hudl and YouTube. He grades players on a 10-to-5 scale, rating their current skills and projecting their potential:

10: five-star caliber now, eventual All-American and immediate impact player.
9: upper-tier four-star, All-ACC caliber.
8: mid-tier four-star, impactful multi-year starter without as high a ceiling.
7: lower four-star, solid starter but not someone to build around.
6: high three-star, a role player with physical limitations that prevent a full-time starting job.
5: mid-tier three-star, likely a project or a special-teamer.
Below 5: Not a scholarship-level player at Miami.

Leading up to March 20, we’ll post Gould’s takes on UM’s early enrollees — the players who will participate in spring ball — and then move onto those arriving in the summer. (See previous posts below.)

Next up: offensive lineman John Campbell, a 6-foot-5 tackle from Orlando-Dr. Phillips High:

JOHN CAMPBELL

Campbell

Gould’s grade: 6

Scouting report: “Nice length with a decent build. Good balance and positions himself well in pass protection. Pass-pro technique is clean with consistently good hand placement. Drives legs in the run game and is effective on down blocks when he locks on. Always looks for work and finishes plays. Good enough athlete to wall off second level defenders. Struggles to get across the face of down linemen in the run game due to a lack of quickness. Not very explosive and doesn’t make much of an impact on contact. Committed to Miami early over Florida. Won a state title as a senior. On campus for spring ball. Decent all-around tackle prospect but seems to lack the necessary physical capabilities to excel as a starter.”